Twenties Life

As many of you may or may not already know, I’m 19. Already a man, but not yet a full adult. Young, but almost two decades old. To turn twenty is a big deal, more so than 21, I think, for these reasons:

- You no longer have the suffix “teen” to come with your age

- Saying you live with your parents becomes more embarrassing to say

- Everyone expects you to have a good idea of where you’re heading

- Your life becomes YOUR responsibility

It seemed like just yesterday I was playing with my toy dinosaurs and watching Saturday morning cartoons. Now, it seems more probable that I could be filling out forms and filing paperwork for an unpaid internship or shadowing a professional for some job that I might seem to like.

In my eyes, living as a twenty-year-old involves being one of two types. There’s the more mature twenty-something who is plotting his/her course with resumes, internships, and job shadowing, constant volunteer work and community service. And there’s the more care-free twenty-something who sees a bright future involving drinking, partying, couch-hopping, road-tripping, and outlawing. Do either of these look appealing to you?

To be honest, neither of these seem like viable options to me. It’s not my style to be a pencil pusher. I study hard as much as I play, but becoming the corporate employee isn’t me. On the other hand, I’m not one to delude myself into thinking there’s such a thing as a “care-free life of partying”. All play and no work makes Jack a fool. Life was meant to be enjoyed, but not to the extent that I’d spend every other waking moment of it having party-type fun.

When I reach twenty, I want to be more independent. I want to be more of an artist, a writer, a builder, a painter, a CREATOR. I want to be more of a leader: an active, innovative follower instead of a mindless one. I want to be a stronger, better, more powerful, more unshakable me.

At the age of twenty, you are no longer the helpless kid you once were. You have power. You can change things. You can spearhead movements. Make a difference. The teenager inside of you is dead. You are now a man. You are now a woman. You are an adult in this world.

Enough with the gossip and obsessions with celebrity drama. Enough with “trying to fit in”. Enough with blaming your parents for your horrible life. Enough with your petty squabbles. Grab hold of your future and command its path. Fear not of your adolescent insecurities: high school is over. Give heed to the words of your more successful elders.

And lay waste to the obstacles standing in your path. You aren’t too young. You are a twenty year old.

photo credit: mamnaimie